Excited Michael Beale says he can’t wait to get his hands on his new Rangers recruits - but admits he’s not sure if he’ll have them wrapped up in time for Hampden.
The Ibrox boss is looking to add as many as three new faces to his Rangers squad this month and has been linked with swoops for Norwich ace Todd Cantwell and Everton midfielder Tom Davies. Beale was confirming no names last night after his side maintained their unbeaten start under his watch with a 2-0 win over Dundee United - but did admit he’s a fan of both players.
And he hopes the Ibrox faithful will be just as encouraged as he is by the quality of signing he and Ross Wilson have got planned for the days ahead. He said: “I have to be excited about working with someone and the journey they are going on. I have to feel that they are someone who can come to Ibrox in front of 52,000 and really will grow and not shrink.
“That is the biggest question I have when I sit in front of a player – are they going to shrink at Ibrox or grow. We need growers and people who are going to come in in the next two or three years and help us win trophies and do well in Europe.
“That is the most important thing now. If I was to rush it and get it wrong, you’ll all condemn me. I hope you will be excited as I am about the two or three additions we are hoping to do.”
However, Beale warned fans hoping to have their new additions in action to face Aberdeen in Sunday’s Viaplay Cup semi-final. He said: “I don’t know (if we’ll have the deals completed for Hampden) to be honest with you.
“I would like to think we will continue with the negotiations. Since I spoke to you the other day there are even more (targets) who have come to the table but there is nothing concrete just yet.”
Davies and Cantwell have emerged as the frontrunners to check in this month, though. And Beale said: "No names but I think they are both good players to be fair. Todd was an excellent player when he was young and playing against my Liverpool Under 23s.
“I thought he would go on and have a fantastic career. He had that at the start and he is maybe just looking for a move to re-ingite it but I think he is a fantastic player at a good age. And Tom Davies, he used to kick my Liverpool Under 23s team all around the place.
“There’s a bit of John Lundstram about him. I’m not confirming anything with those two. But there’s a lot of players we are speaking to at the moment.”
Goals from Fashion Sakala and Malik Tillman trimmed Celtic’s Premiership lead back to nine points as Gers welcomed back Kemar Roofe after a two-and-a-half month layoff at Tannadice. With John Souttar and Ianis Hagi nearing returns too, Beale added: “They will feel like new signings.
“We would like to have new faces in the building. I want to add competition. I think one or two players maybe coming in from Premier League clubs or clubs around Europe with a real good profile that will certainly help us. I want to turn the dial up in the building.”
Sakala helped get Gers firing against United after another tepid first-half display which saw the Zambian struggle too.
Beale said: “He was certainly leading to a lot of frustration for a lot of people in the building first half. That’s our Fashion. He has to keep smiling and keep going. That goal today was exactly what I wanted.
“I asked him to come off that right side and run down the left side at times and disrupt. It is a heck of a finish.
“He sets it up for himself. And Malik – they were the two players I was getting into at half time the most because I felt it was a bit static on the right. I wanted them to move more and free up Tavernier and they did that for both goals – Tav goes on a nice run for the second one.
“But two good goals, exactly what we spoke about at half time. We are not Real Madrid just yet, but we are moving in the right direction.”
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